Distracted Driving Research

The following is a limited bibliography of research reports concerning distracted driving. It is meant to provide a brief introduction to the current state of research on the issue. The U.S. Department of Transportation does not endorse the research listed here, nor does non-DOT research represent the official position of DOT, its agencies, or its employees.

On December 8, 2011, NHTSA released a new measure of fatalities related to distracted driving, called “distraction-affected crashes.” NHTSA’s adoption of the new “distraction-affected crash” measure for the 2010 FARS data is one step in a continuing effort to focus on driver distraction and separate it from other issues. The new measure is designed to focus more narrowly on crashes in which a driver was most likely to have been distracted. NHTSA will continue to look for improved data sources.

"Distracted Driving 2014,” NHTSA 2016
This research note from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis discusses distracted driving statistics from 2014. The analysis was based on a data set of known distraction affected deaths in motor vehicle crashes at the time of publication.

"Distracted Driving 2013," NHTSA 2015
This research note from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis discusses distracted driving statistics from 2013. The analysis was based on a data set of known distraction affected deaths in motor vehicle crashes at the time of publication.

"Distracted Driving 2012," NHTSA 2014
This research note from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis discusses distracted driving statistics from 2012. The analysis was based on a data set of known distraction affected deaths in motor vehicle crashes at the time of publication.

"Distracted Driving 2011," NHTSA 2013
This research note from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis discusses distracted driving statistics from 2011. The analysis was based on a data set of known distraction affected deaths in motor vehicle crashes at the time of publication.

Data on Electronic Device Use While Driving

"Driver Electronic Device Use in 2014," NHTSA 2015
The percentage of drivers text-messaging or visibly manipulating handheld devices increased from 1.7 percent in 2013 to 2.2 percent in 2014; this was a statistically significant increase. Driver handheld cell phone use decreased from 4.6 percent in 2013 to 4.3 percent in 2014; however, this was not a statistically significant decrease. These results are from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which provides the only nationwide probability-based observed data on driver electronic device use in the United States. The NOPUS is conducted annually by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Americans and Text Messaging," Pew Research Center 2011
Cell owners between the ages of 18 and 24 exchange an average of 109.5 messages on a normal day. Overall, the survey found that both text messaging and phone calling on cell phones have leveled off for the adult population as a whole.

"Impact of Hand-Held and Hands-Free Cell Phone Use on Driving Performance," VTTI
Talking on a cell phone, of any type, was not associated with an increased safety-critical event risk. Visual-manual subtasks (such as dialing) performed on a handheld cell phone were associated with an increased (crash) risk and significantly increased the percentage of time drivers took their eyes off the forward roadway.